Cambios en las propiedades de un suelo franco bajo producción orgánica de manzano utilizando coberturas vegetales = Changes in soil properties in a loamy soil under organic production of apples using cover crops

Abstract

El manejo de los suelos en el Alto Valle de Río Negro se basa en la labranza continua la cual en el largo plazo puede afectar negativamente las propiedades del suelo. Por este motivo se planteó un ensayo cuyo objetivo fue estudiar el efecto que producen distintos manejos de suelos aplicados en un huerto orgánico de manzano (Malus domestica Bork.) cv. Royal Gala sobre la disponibilidad de los nutrientes y la distribución de carbono orgánico (CO) y nitrógeno total (Nt) en los agregados de un suelo de textura franca. En marzo de 1999, en el espacio interfilar, o entre-hileras, se aplicaron los siguientes tratamientos coberturas: 1) cobertura permanente de festuca (Festuca arundinacea) y alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (A+F); 2) cobertura permanente de trébol frutilla (Trifolium fragiferum) (Tr); 3) siembra anual de vicia (Vicia sativa) (V); y 4) Testigo, vegetación espontánea y con pasada doble de rastra de disco al final del invierno (labranza convencional que realiza el productor) (T). En noviembre 2002, se extrajeron muestras de suelos en las profundidades 0-7,5; 7,5-15 y 15-30 cm. Se determinó materia orgánica (MO), nitrógeno total (Nt), fósforo disponible (P) y bases de intercambio (Ca+2, K+ y Mg+2). En la profundidad de 0-7,5 cm se obtuvieron dos fracciones: macroagregados (100- 2.000 μ) y microagregados (0-100 μ), y se determinó en cada una de ellas el contenido de MO, CO y Nt. Los tratamientos con coberturas perennes (A+F y Tr) incrementaron la disponibilidad de Nt y MO hasta los 15 cm, mientras que K+ fue más alto en la capa superficial (7,5 cm) del suelo respecto a los tratamientos V y T. La concentración de Mg+2 duplicó en los primeros 15 cm en el tratamiento A+F respecto a T. Las concentraciones de Ca+2 en A+F y Tr fueron mayores que las halladas en T para las tres profundidades analizadas y en los primeros 15 cm, respectivamente. En el tratamiento T los macroagregados disminuyeron y los microagregados se incrementaron en comparación a los tratamientos con coberturas perennes (A+F y Tr).

Orchard floor management in the Rio Negro valley is based on continuous tillage which in the long term may negatively affect soil properties. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of different soil management treatments in an organic apple orchard (Malus domestica Bork.) cv. Royal Gala on nutrient availability, soil aggregates stability and organic carbon (CO) and total nitrogen (Nt) concentration in soil aggregates in a loamy soil. In March 1999, cover treatments applied to the inter-row spaces were: 1) permanent cover of fescue (Festuca arundinacea) plus alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (A+F); 2) permanent cover of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) (Tr); 3) seeding of common vetch (Vicia sativa) (V); and 4) control, natural soil vegetation and disking twice in late winter (T). In November 2002, soil samples were taken at three soil depths, 0-7.5; 7.5-15, and 15-30 cm to determine soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (Nt), available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable bases (Ca+2, K+ and Mg+2). In the top 0-7.5 cm macro aggregate (100-2,000 µm) micro aggregate (0-100 µm) fractions and the content of OM, OC and Nt were determined. Organic matter and Nt concentration in the perennial cover crops treatments (A+F and Tr) increased, and K+ were higher only in the 0-7.5 cm soil depths respect the V and T treatments. Magnesium concentration increased two-fold in the top 15 cm of soil in A+F compared to T. Calcium concentrations in A+F and Tr were higher than T at all soil depths and for the top 15 cm, respectively. In the T treatment macro-aggregates diminished and microaggregates increased due to soil cultivation compared to the perennial cover crops.

Orchard floor management in the Rio Negro valley is based on continuous tillage which in the long term may negatively affect soil properties. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of different soil management treatments in an organic apple orchard (Malus domestica Bork.) cv. Royal Gala on nutrient availability, soil aggregates stability and organic carbon (CO) and total nitrogen (Nt) concentration in soil aggregates in a loamy soil. In March 1999, cover treatments applied to the inter-row spaces were: 1) permanent cover of fescue (Festuca arundinacea) plus alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (A+F); 2) permanent cover of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) (Tr); 3) seeding of common vetch (Vicia sativa) (V); and 4) control, natural soil vegetation and disking twice in late winter (T). In November 2002, soil samples were taken at three soil depths, 0-7.5; 7.5-15, and 15-30 cm to determine soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (Nt), available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable bases (Ca+2, K+ and Mg+2). In the top 0-7.5 cm macro aggregate (100-2,000 µm) micro aggregate (0-100 µm) fractions and the content of OM, OC and Nt were determined. Organic matter and Nt concentration in the perennial cover crops treatments (A+F and Tr) increased, and K+ were higher only in the 0-7.5 cm soil depths respect the V and T treatments. Magnesium concentration increased two-fold in the top 15 cm of soil in A+F compared to T. Calcium concentrations in A+F and Tr were higher than T at all soil depths and for the top 15 cm, respectively. In the T treatment macro-aggregates diminished and microaggregates increased due to soil cultivation compared to the perennial cover crops.